In a partnership with Whole Foods Market® Bowery, the LES BID is inviting interested artists to submit their work for consideration to be featured in the first ever pop-up gallery that will be taking place on the second floor mezzanine at Whole Foods Market Bowery.

PROJECT DESCRIPTION:

The Lower East Side Business Improvement District and Whole Foods Market® Bowery are seeking submissions from visual artists that have ties to the Lower East Side. In your project description, please elucidate upon what your connection is to this neighborhood. We would like to see artwork that is somehow based on these ties to the Lower East Side – artwork that speaks to either or both the past and present of this neighborhood. Submissions can run the full range – whether that’s portrait, graphic, painting, photography etc. Abstract art submissions will be considered, but are not preferred. Only submissions for visual art that can be hung or displayed on an easel will be accepted. Each individual submission must be no larger than 4′ x 4′, but artwork is not required to be square. The artwork will be displayed in that state in which it is submitted, so please plan to represent your work as such.

Five winners will be selected by a community panel and will go on to have his or her work on display for one full month in a pop-up gallery, located in the second floor space at Whole Foods Market Bowery. The contest will conclude on Monday, August 18th and winners will be privately and individually notified no later than August 25th. These winners will then be announced to the public on Thursday, September 4th in a joint celebration between Whole Foods Market and the Lower East Side BID, and this pop-up gallery will go on to be included as a participating gallery in the third annual LES Opening Night: Art + Fashion event, a celebration of fall art openings as well as a fashion show that takes place on Orchard Street on Sunday, September 7th.

APPLICATION DEADLINE:

8/18/2014

SPACE AVAILABILITY:

The artwork will be displayed in a pop-up gallery in the second floor of Whole Foods Market Bowery for one month.

LOCATION SPECS:

The artwork will be displayed in the state it is submitted, whether that's via easel or hung on a wall. Based on this, the artwork must be submitted in a ready to mount or display state. The size of the display area in the pop-up gallery is 19'x10'. The pop-up gallery area will be cordoned off by stanchions and Whole Foods Market Bowery employs security personnel that roam the store, including this area. While we will do our best to keep the artwork safe with stanchions and store security, neither Whole Foods Market Bowery nor the LES BID will be held responsible for any lost/stolen or damaged artwork. Artists who are selected will be required to fill out an Indemnification form before his or her work can be displayed. Artists interested in submitting his or her work must keep top of mind the fact that this pop-up gallery will be taking place in an area that is extremely dense with foot traffic.

GUIDELINES / RESTRICTIONS:

In your artwork submission, please be sure to elaborate upon both your connections to the Lower East Side, as well as how that is represented with your submission, that you would like to be published on display next to your work. Artwork is required to be visual, and can be no larger than 4'x4'. Submissions can run the full range – whether that’s portrait, graphic, painting, photography etc. Abstract art submissions will be considered, but are not preferred. Make sure you plan to submit your work in a ready-to-display state.

BUDGET / STIPEND:

Whole Foods Market Bowery has a No Solicitation policy. Therefore, the sale of artwork cannot take place on Whole Foods Market Bowery premises. However, winners will be allowed to provide information on how the public can purchase the artwork or obtain more information about the artist/work. This information will be made clearly available to the public.

FURTHER INFORMATION:

This is the first of a series of open calls for visual art that will be executed via the partnership of Whole Foods Market Bowery and the Lower East Side Business Improvement District.